Adjustable Tee Marker

ABSTRACT

An article of manufacture for providing an adjustable tee marker according to the present invention is an adjustable tee marker having a tee marker body having a front side, top side, and a rear side, a yardage display positioned on the front side of the tee marker body, the yardage display shows a plurality of numerical digits corresponding to a yardage distance from the adjustable tee marker to a specified location on golf course hole, a location name display positioned on the front side of the tee marker body, the location name display shows one of a plurality of changeable location names corresponding to the specified location on golf course hole, and an installation spike coupled to the tee marker body. A mechanism/winder accessible using a key may be inserted into the tee marker body. The mechanism/winder rotates when the key inserted into the tee marker body is rotated causing the location name display to change the changeable location name seen in the location name display.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates in general to an article of manufacture for providing golfing devices, and more specifically, to an article of manufacture for providing an adjustable tee marker.

BACKGROUND

Each hole on a golf course is made up of a set of different locations and ground conditions that are positioned between a tee box and a hole. These locations and ground conditions may include, a fairway, a green, the hole, and one or more obstacles such as sand traps, water hazards, trees, rocks, and cart paths. A golfer uses knowledge of the distance from the tee box to each one or more of these locations to determine an ideal club and direction of flight to use when playing the hole. Each of these locations may differ from hole to hole on a golf course and one or more of these locations may change over time. For example, the hole is typically moved to different locations on the green to provide golfers with a different challenge each time the hole is played.

The golf course operators need to change this distance information each time these distances change as well as change the displayed distances on each hole on the golf course. Making individual distance marking plaques for every hole on the golf course as well as multiple distance marking plaques for each hole as it may change over time is both expensive as well as an organizational challenge each time the course is reconfigured.

Therefore, a need exists for an article of manufacture for providing an adjustable tee marker. The present invention attempts to address the limitations and deficiencies in prior solutions according to the principles and example embodiments disclosed herein.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other problems are solved by providing an article of manufacture providing an adjustable tee marker according to the principles and example embodiments disclosed herein.

In one embodiment, the present invention is an article of manufacture for providing an adjustable tee marker. The adjustable tee marker includes a tee marker body having a front side, top side, and a rear side, a yardage display positioned on the front side of the tee marker body, the yardage display shows a plurality of numerical digits corresponding to a yardage distance from the adjustable tee marker to a specified location on golf course hole, a location name display positioned on the front side of the tee marker body, the location name display shows one of a plurality of changeable location names corresponding to the specified location on golf course hole, and an installation spike coupled to the tee marker body.

In another aspect of the present invention, a mechanism/winder accessible using a key may be inserted into the tee marker body. The adjustable tee marker further includes a mechanism/winder rotates when the key inserted into the tee marker body is rotated causing the location name display to change the changeable location name seen in the location name display.

In another aspect of the present invention, the mechanism/winder includes a set of rollers about an inner surface of the tee marker body, a location band containing one or more changeable location names about an outer surface being positioned around the set of rollers, the outer surface is visible in the location name display making the one or more changeable location names visible, and a set of rotation gears connecting the key inserted into the tee marker body to the location band, the key inserted into the body of the tee marker body is rotated to cause the each of the gears within the set of rotation gears to rotate and the set of rotation gears rotate to cause the location band to rotate about the set of rollers.

In another aspect of the present invention, the location band comprises a flexible band having an outer surface with the location names contained thereon and an inner surface coupled to the set of rotation gears allowing the flexible band to rotate about the set of rollers when the mechanism/winder is engaged.

In another aspect of the present invention, each of the plurality of numerical digits in the yardage display device comprise a plurality of separately rotating wheels, each wheel displays a single digit within the yardage display device, each single digit corresponds to a digit in a displayed number representing a distance from the tee marker body to a location of the item shown in the location name display.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features that are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout:

FIG. 1 illustrate an example use of an article of manufacture providing an adjustable tee marker according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of an article of manufacture providing an adjustable tee marker according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of an article of manufacture providing an adjustable tee marker according to the present invention

FIG. 4 illustrates an info message band used in an article of manufacture providing an adjustable tee marker according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a yardage display device used within an article of manufacture providing an adjustable tee marker according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example embodiment of an inner display mechanism used to change a yardage marker name display of an article of manufacture providing an adjustable tee marker according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This application relates in general to an article of manufacture for providing a golfing device, and more specifically, to an article of manufacture providing an adjustable tee marker according to the present invention.

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention.

In describing embodiments of the present invention, the following terminology will be used. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It further will be understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and “including” specify the presence of stated features, steps or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps or components. It also should be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions and acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality and acts involved.

The terms “individual,” and “user” refer to an entity, e.g., a human, using an article of manufacture providing an adjustable tee marker according to the present invention. The term user herein refers to one or more users.

The term “invention” or “present invention” refers to the invention being applied for via the patent application with the title “Adjustable Tee Marker.” Invention may be used interchangeably with Tee Marker.

In general, the present disclosure relates an article of manufacture providing an adjustable tee marker according to the present invention. To better understand the present invention, FIG. 1 illustrate an example use of an article of manufacture providing an adjustable tee marker according to the present invention. When a golfer approaches a tee box 105, the golfer may encounter a number of obstacles that need to be avoided as they attempt to drive their tee shot towards a fairway 106, a green 104 and a hole 103. These obstacles may include any number of items including sand traps 112, trees 111 and other vegetation, water hazards (not shown) among many other possible items.

When the golfer considers how to approach a tee shot, the golfer may find it helpful to know the distance from the tee box 105 to each of these obstacles 111-112 as well as to the green 104 and a hole 103 given its current location. Many golf courses may provide some of this information in various documents that may be provided to golfers before starting a round of golf. Unfortunately, this information may not be provided in a source of information that is available to every golfer. This information also is not necessarily provided at a tee box 105 just before a golfer selects a club for use and determines an approach to the hole.

The present intention is an adjustable tee marker 101 that is placed about a tee box 105 that displays the yardage from the tee box 105 to one or more of these obstacles 111-112 as well as the green 104 and the hole 103. Each of the adjustable tee markers 101 may display one or more yardage number along with a name of the location or object being identified. The adjustable tee marker 101 may present different names for the objects of interest at each individual hole 100 that may be adjusted by the golf course any time a hole 100 is reconfigured, a hole location is changed, and the tee markers 101 are installed onto a particular hole 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of an article of manufacture providing an adjustable tee marker according to the present invention. The adjustable tee marker 100 is contained within a tee marker body 101 that provides an obstacle or location name display 203 on a front side of the adjustable tee marker 101 as shown in FIG. 2 . A yardage display 202 is also located on the front side of the adjustable tee marker 101 which is shown in detail in FIG. 5 . The adjustable tee marker 101 may include an installation spike 210 to allow the adjustable tee marker 101 to be easily placed into the ground about the tee box 105.

The obstacle or location name display 203 includes a windows on a spherical tee marker through which the name of the obstacle is provided including the pin, a hazard, or a dogleg. In FIG. 2 a name “TO PIN” is shown. The name information is located on a circular location band 401 that is similar to a rubber bracelet shown in FIG. 4 . The location band rotates within the adjustable tee marker 101, as shown in more detail in FIG. 6 , to show other locations, as necessary: “TO HAZARD, TO DOGLEG, TO TREE, TO SANDTRAP.” The name display 203 may include any location or obstacle of note that may be found on a particular hole as needed.

Yardage numbers 202 are on a combination lock-styled number wheel that is used to adjust and display yardage. The yardage display device 202 is described in more detail in FIG. 5 . Three digits in the yardage display device 202 are typically sufficient to display any distance reasonable expected to be encountered by a golfer on any hole 100.

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of an article of manufacture providing an adjustable tee marker according to the present invention. The adjustable tee marker 101, as shown in both FIGS. 2 and 3 are presented as a spherical object 201. On the rear side of the adjustable tee marker 101 of FIG. 3 , a mechanism/winder 301 is positioned on the rear side to allow the use of a key or similar winding device in order to change the information displayed by yardage display device 202 and the obstacle or location name display 203. The mechanism/winder 301 is designed for rotating the location band within the sphere to change the location band 401 that provides the name of the location or obstacle being referenced with the yardage display 202

The location band 400 may be designed to sit and circulate within the adjustable tee marker 101. Different locations such as “TO PIN,” TO HAZARD,” “TO BUNKER,”, or “TO TREE” are stamped along the outside edge of the location band 400 as in FIG. 4 . Different locations show through a window of the obstacle or location name display 203 of adjustable tee marker 101 as the location band 400 is rotated within the adjustable tee marker 101. Operation of the mechanism/winder 301 is described below in reference to FIG. 6 .

FIG. 4 illustrates an info message band used in an article of manufacture providing an adjustable tee marker according to the present invention. The location band 400, which may be similar to the rubber bracelet, can be designed to sit and circulate within the adjustable tee marker 101. Different location names such as “TO GREEN” 402 a, TO SAND TRAP” 402 c, “TO WATER” 402 b, or “TO TREE” (not shown) are stamped around the outside surface 401 of the location band 400 with the size of the location or obstacle name being shown in a size matching the window of the obstacle or location name display 203. Of course, many additional locations specific to a particular golf course and hole may be listed on the location band 400. One of the many different locations may be shown through the window on the obstacle or location name display 203 as the location band 400 is rotated within the adjustable tee marker 101.

FIG. 5 illustrates a yardage display device used within an article of manufacture providing an adjustable tee marker according to the present invention. The yardage display device 202 comprises a set of 3 rotating wheels 502 a-c containing digits that provide a yardage measurement to the golfer. Each of the display digits 502 a-c of the yardage display device 202 corresponds to a number wheel is located within yardage display device 202 that can be adjusted to display different yardages for the corresponding location or obstacle. Each of the display digits 502 a-c are contained on an outer surface of a wheel that may be separately rotated to display a particular digit corresponding to a digit with the yardage from the tee marker body 101 to the location of the item shown in the location name display 203. Each wheel contains the digits from 0 to 9 on its outside surface. The yardage display device 202 shows only one of the digits on each wheel at one time to specify a particular yardage to a specified location on the golf course hole. In alternate embodiments, these digits may be interconnected to change between different settings as the location band 400 is moved.

While the yardage display device 202 and the location name display 203 as disclosed above, represents use of mechanical devices that rotate to change the information being displayed, one skilled in the art will recognize that other display devices may be used. For example, digitally generated displays and similar devices may be used. The above disclosure is not intended to limit the present invention except as recited in the claims attached herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example embodiment of an inner display mechanism used to change a yardage marker name display of an article of manufacture providing an adjustable tee marker according to the present invention. The location band 400 is shown within the adjustable tee marker 101, which is shown in this particular embodiment 600 as being an oval. Other shapes including squares or cubes, circles or spheres, and any other shape may be use as the outside casing of the adjustable tee marker 101.

Within the adjustable tee marker 101, the location band 400 is positioned around a set of rollers 602 a-c and a set of rotation gears 611 a-b that work together to allow the location band to be rotated to display on of the locations listed on the location band 400 through the location name display 203. The location band 400 is moved around the set of rollers 602 a-c when the set of rotation gears 611 a-b are rotated using a key 605 or similar device that is inserted into the mechanism/winder 301 and turned.

As the key 605 is turned, the rotation gears 611 a-b are rotated causing the location band 400 to move. As the location band 400 moves, the outside surface 401 of the location band 400 is correspondingly moved to display a different portion of the outside surface 401 through the location name display 203. The mechanism/winder 301 may be used to move the location band 400 about the set of rollers 602 a-c until a desired location names 401 a-c is seen in the location name display 203.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the present application, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of the invention. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in this application. In other words, any of the features mentioned in this application may be included to this new invention in any combination or combinations to allow the functionality required for the desired operations.

No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An article of manufacture providing an adjustable tee marker on a golf course hole, the adjustable tee marker comprises: a tee marker body having a front side, top side, and a rear side; a yardage display positioned on the front side of the tee marker body, the yardage display shows a plurality of numerical digits corresponding to a yardage distance from the adjustable tee marker to a specified location on golf course hole; a location name display positioned on the front side of the tee marker body, the location name display shows one of a plurality of changeable location names corresponding to the specified location on golf course hole; and an installation spike coupled to the tee marker body.
 2. The adjustable tee marker according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable tee marker further comprises: a mechanism/winder accessible using a key inserted into the tee marker body, the mechanism/winder rotates when the key inserted into the tee marker body is rotated causing the location name display to change the changeable location name seen in the location name display.
 3. The adjustable tee marker according to claim 2, wherein the mechanism/winder comprises: a set of rollers about an inner surface of the tee marker body; a location band containing one or more changeable location names about an outer surface being positioned around the set of rollers, the outer surface is visible in the location name display making the one or more changeable location names visible; and a set of rotation gears connecting the key inserted into the tee marker body to the location band, the key inserted into the body of the tee marker body is rotated to cause the each of the gears within the set of rotation gears to rotate and the set of rotation gears rotate to cause the location band to rotate about the set of rollers.
 4. The adjustable tee marker according to claim 3, wherein the location band comprises a flexible band having an outer surface with the location names contained thereon and an inner surface coupled to the set of rotation gears allowing the flexible band to rotate about the set of rollers when the mechanism/winder is engaged.
 5. The adjustable tee marker according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of numerical digits in the yardage display device comprise a plurality of separately rotating wheels, each wheel displays a single digit within the yardage display device, each single digit corresponds to a digit in a displayed number representing a distance from the tee marker body to a location of the item shown in the location name display. 